An Ancient Legend of Mary & Martha

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, 

but few things are needed—indeed only one.

 Mary has chosen the better part, 

which will not be taken away from her.”

( from Luke 10:38-42)

There’s a famous legend about Martha told after Jesus’s resurrection.

Martha becomes a traveling preacher ending up in a small French that, unfortunately, has a chronic dragon problem. Martha slays the dragon which wins the whole town over to Christianity.

In the same legend, Mary, on that same trip, starts a monastery in the wilderness.

In this legend, they both complete their assigned roles in Christian history:

Martha acts and Mary studies. Martha represents an active faith, while Mary represents a contemplative faith.

Martha shows Jesus hospitality while Mary sits at his feet listening. They represent different parts of Christian discipleship and both are seen as positive characters.

They are both doing good things. There is no villain in this story.

The confusion begins when Jesus says Mary has the better part and we don’t search the scriptures for an obvious meaning.

Jesus rebuke is about Martha's distraction, because she’s focusing on the actions of others instead of her relationship with Jesus.

Mary, on the other hand is focused on Jesus which can never be taken away.

It’s a challenging idea that we can do right and good things but still be distracted by the wrong things and focus more on perceived shortcomings of others than on our relationship with Jesus.

The Gospel is clear that disciples serve and listen to the word.

As we navigate our way in today’s complicated, distracting world, serving and listening are critical.

Maybe we’ll slay dragons or start monasteries, but the main thing is our focus on Jesus.

Jesus’ Rules of Hospitality

“Whenever you enter a town

and its people welcome you,

eat what is set before you.”

(from Luke 10:1-11)

There’s a true story of a seminary professor who asked a class to imagine the most challenging part of accompanying the 70 on their mission journey.

Most of the responses were predictable: no money, no change of clothes, no food, depending on strangers.

One student said, “Eat what is set before you.”

The student explained that his father was a pastor in a very rural, poor part of South Dakota and often invited to dinner mostly by farmers.

On remote farms people often relied on whatever they could kill or catch, such as squirrels, rabbits, and other wild creatures, even for guests so the father instructed the family to eat what was set before them.

He added, “We just never knew what we would have to eat.”

If you search Luke, you’ll find that Jesus often attends a meal, but never gives a dinner party.

In Jesus’ rules of hospitality, being a respectful recipient by graciously eating what is set before you is of primary importance.

Jesus’ rules of hospitality are far from the traditions I know.

For example, if I Invite you to dinner, I’ll notice if you don’t return an invitation to dine at your place.

Other hospitality customs in our society are dining with people of the same class, or those with abundant resources are more are hospitable to those with less, or warmly welcoming new comers to worship.

It seems to me that reflecting on hospitality as we walk with Jesus, means examining those things that keep us safe and comfortable and moving beyond them.

As Christian disciples there’s an urgency to bring God’s kingdom near.

Fred's Mule

"And Jesus said to him,

“No one who puts a hand to the plow

and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

(from Luke 9:51-62)

One Semester I attended Summer School in Tennessee living with Aunt Jose and her nephew Fred.

Aunt Jose grew up in the village and Fred, her nephew unable able to care for himself, came down from the mountains to live with her.

Aunt Josie had planted an enormous vegetable garden by her house tending it carefully as Fred pulled weeds.

One morning I woke up to Aunt Jose yelling at Fred angry enough to call the “fires down from heaven”

Looking out my bedroom window, I saw Fred had attached a mule to a plow yelling “Gee” then “Haw” again “Gee, Haw”.

The mule was plowing across the vegetable’s rows instead of down the furrows.

I got out of bed, went down to the garden, grabbed the mule by the halter, and led it up and down the furrows.

Plowing a field means watching carefully in front of you to maintain straight furrows.

Looking backward means swerving one way or another.

What does Jesus mean saying, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”?

Reflecting on this, Jesus seems to be saying disciples have a higher standard than using scripture impulsively for hasty, violent actions like commanding fire from heaven. (2 Kings 1: 10-12)

James and John’s request about fire from heaven will only lead to thinking God is on their side and the Samaritans are wrong.

Consider looking back asking yourself, “who are my Samaritans?” Are they race, gender, ethnic, economic?

Now, put your hands to the plow, look ahead, and prioritize your actions to fully and faithfully follow Jesus.